Alive | Nick Robinson

Protect

Keep safe from harm or injury.

Wednesday rolls around faster than I expect. I look for Nick everywhere and I'm not even sure why when I feel like like I'm pushing away, not the other way around. It feels ironic somehow.

I even look around for him when I'm walking home and a part of me is hoping he'll grab my arm and pull me into a bush for a secret rendezvous.

I sit in my room for a few hours, mostly listening to music and trying to block out my own thoughts rather than do my homework. I give up quickly and decide to head into town for a slushy.

The bell chimes when I enter the tiny store and I head to the section of multi colored dye filled frozen drinks. I decide on cherry and as I'm putting a lid on, the bell chimes and suddenly there's someone shouting at the clerk to put the money in a bag.

My heart slams to the ground as I duck, following my instinct. My skin beats with nerves as I peek up and see a gun pointed to the guy behind the counter who's filling a black backpack with the measly amount of money from the register.

"Hurry up!" The robber shouts who's wearing a ski mask and a leather jacket.

My heart pulls my body up straighter. I know that voice and that jacket. I had been searching for that voice for the past two days at school, I had heard in my dreams and thoughts as much as I wanted to escape it.

Nick's voice. Nick's jacket. Nick with a gun.

What is this dumbass doing? I look up and see the cameras in the corners of the store. He risks getting caught even with the ski mask on. I don't care why he's doing this but I decide right then, spilled cherry slushy freezing my fingers on the ground, that I'm about to do something stupid to protect him.

I carefully pick up my cup which holds the remains of freezing drink and I tiptoe forward, crouching down on my toes. My movements almost feel like watching someone else make them as well as my thoughts.

Because I know for a fact the tv that records the video for the security tapes is right behind the counter being watched by whoever is on shift and right now it's the gangly dark skinned boy who got startled when Fay shouted about the price of lunchables.

I wait until the bag is being handed to Nick by the shaking hands that belong to the 20 something boy. That's when I make my move, my impulsive plan hopefully about to fall into place.

I run forward, sliding across the counter on my butt as I throw the ice cold cherry slushy into the clerk's face before grabbing the videotape from the small tv. I dash and hop the countertop, grab Nick's hand and yank us to safety by running full speed out of the store and down the sidewalk. He follows me without any questions but finally we stop to take a breath.

I'm full of burning hot blood and something that feels like excitement. We rest in an allway that's at least fourteen blocks from Randy's. I try catching my breath but it's locked in my throat along with my pounding blood that's making me feel like a bomb about to go off. Nick pulls the ski mask off, he breathlessly pulls his hair back.

"What the fuck?" He says to me, anger spilling from his voice and his hands which are locked into fists..

"You're a fucking dumbass," I spit out, stepping forward to shove the backpack he has slung on one shoulder. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"I'm dumb? What about you, huh? He could have a clear description of you, Kaia!"

I scoff. "That guy is a pussy and even then I highly doubt it," I wave the videotape in his face and drop it on the ground before smashing it with my boot. After I'm done I blow out a breath to sway the stray strands of hair that are sticking to my forehead. Nick looks shocked. "Next time you rob someplace you shouldn't dress like yourself, genius."

"I'll keep that in mind, maybe I'll put on a batman disguise," He throws his hands up and then places them on his temples. "Jesus christ."

"You're welcome!" I shout at him. He looks up at me. "I'll remember not to help save your ass next time it needs saving."

"Oh, it didn't need saving, princess," He snaps, dropping the bag full of money to the ground and stepping closer to me. "I had it covered."
"Did you even know there was a camera? What if someone else had been in there besides me and called the cops?" He clenches his jaw tightly. "That's what I thought, Nick."

"Fine, next time I rob a place in a shitty town I'll do my research," He says.

"Why do you even need this?" I point to the bag.

"Taco bell."

"Oh, how fucking funny," I cross my arms. He looks away from me. "Why do you need money so bad you're willing to steal it? Or is this just like a casual weekday activity for you, Nickyboy?"

Nick sighs and leans his head on the brick wall. He shuts his eyes. "I'm not telling you why."

"Fuck you," I say with contempt.

He opens his eyes and stares at me in shock.

"I just helped you steal this," I step forward until I've trapped him between me and the wall. I'm not sure if my heart is pounding from what just happened or because I'm standing close to Nick. Maybe both. "Tell me why you stole it."

He bites his lip and avoids my gaze as if he's trying to say anything except the truth. Finally his eyes land on mine. "It's for my sister." My gut twists.

I'm stunned into silence. I don't say anything for a moment so he keeps talking, maybe thinking since he's said that one part of his secret he has to say it all now.

"We were in foster care together, they let us stay with each other but then she got adopted and I let her go," He breathes out and blinks like he's trying not to cry. "I let her move to Arizona with this sweet lady named Nora but uh, Nora died three weeks ago and they put her back in the system. She's stuck in shitty ass fosters home all the way in Arizona," He breathes out and closes his eyes. "Her name is Emily. She's all I have left."

"Okay," I say. And then for some reason I hug him. I stand on my toes and wrap my arms around him as tightly as I can. Nick puts his arms around me and we stand there, breathing and holding. His scent reminds of clean clothes and warm sheets from the dryer. Gum. Old spice. A little bit of sweat.

Nick pulls back and gazes at me, keeping a hand on the small of my back and moving the other to tangle in my hair. "I'm leaving soon to get her back. I didn't want to leave anybody behind but God, I do not want to leave you. Especially, after what you just did for me."

"Oh." I don't know how to feel, I feel like laffy taffy being made. Pulling, pulled, yanked, yanking, stretching, stretched. I barely know him but I'm about to offer to go with him. It scares me.

"Why do I feel like I've known you my whole life?" Nick says, moving his fingers up to my cheek. My spine feels like an ice cube is being dragged down it and then a lit match. Cold then hot.

"You don't know me well enough to say those sorts of things and I am not important enough to warrant that feeling," I say, trying to keep my distance but the other half of me is screaming not too. I listen to the half that says to stay away, he's only trouble and he doesn't make me think clearly. I literally have committed not one, but two crimes for him. What does that say about me?

"Kaia," My name leaving his lips is soft spoken.

"Good luck," I softly tap his chest, drumming the feeling of goodbye on top of his heart with my fingertips.

I pull away from him and say nothing else as once again, I walk away from him while I can hear the sound of my heart beating within my whole body.